Sheet feeding device



Oct. 31, 1950 F. M. CARROLL ETAL SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed ma 3, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y .E N w n A '1950 F. M. CARROLL ET AL 2,528,420

' SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 3, 1941 ATTORNEY FIG.2.

1950 F. M. CARROLL ETAL 2,528,420

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed May 3, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 zgglEgTOR m ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1950 F. M. CARROLL ETAL 2,528,420

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed May 3, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 HGA:

BY Z%'%% W ATTORNEY O 31, 1950 F. M. CARROLL ETAL 2,528,420

SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed May 3,, 1941 7 Sheet's-Sheet 5 FIG] VE TORs -W BY Oct. 31,-1950 F. M. CARROLL ETAL SHEET FEEDING DEVICE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed May 3, 1941 ATTORNEY I mmk Sl-IEETFEEDING DEVICE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed May 3 1941 llllllllllIlhllllllHH llllllllllll! Patented Get. 31, 1950 SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Fred M. Carroll and John H. Bakelaar, Bingharnton, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Original application May 3, 1941, Serial No.

391,732. Divided and this application December 17, 1945, Serial No. 635,556

This application is a division of the copending parent application of Fred M. Carroll, John H. Bakelaar and William B. Pond, Serial No. 391,732, filed May 3, 1941, now U. S. Patent No. 2,442,970, issued June 8, 1948.

This invention relates generally to paper feed ing devices and more particularly to mechanism for advancing record sheets one by one, to, and around, an impression receiving platen.

An object of the invention is the provision of improved means for feeding record sheets to an impression receiving position.

Another object of the invention i the provision of means for advancing sheets one by one from a magazine and locating them by a stop or detent before they are advanced to a print receiving position on a platen. An ejector with a suction lifting device is provided to lift the sheets one by one out of the magazine and put them singly in feeding rollers to be carried to the platen. At an intermediate stage'between the magazine and the platen, the aligning or posi tioning stop is engaged by the front edge of the sheet and the sheet is thus held at a fixed distance from the platen before the resumption of feeding. A train of actuating. connections is present between the platen and stop operator to control them in synchronism. The stop and an intermediate feed roller are coordinated for alternate engagement with the sheet to stop it and feed it by connected movements.

An object of the invention is to provide common carrying and operating means for a sheet stop or detent and a sheet feeding device.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying thatprinciple.

, In the drawings: g

l. is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing the path takenby the ledger sheets in moving from the magazine past the platen and into the stacker.

Fig. 2 is a side. elevation view disclosing the driving connections of the sheet feeding devices.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken through the magazine and ejector mechanism and the path taken by the sheet up to the intermediate stopping position.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the sheet pushing device for advancing the top sheet from the magazine into the first set of feed rollers.

Fig. 5 shows the cam and associated controls 2 Claims. (Cl. 197-130) for operating the suction devices which serve to lift the corner of the top sheet in the magazine.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the sheet depressing member used to hold the sheets down in the magazine while the corner of the top sheet is lifted.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along line 'I'l in Fig. 2 and illustrating the line spacing and high speed drive connections to the platen.

Fig. 8 is a. portion of the wiring diagram showing the connection of the high speed control magnet HS and the sheet feed control magnet SF as they are connected for initiation of the sheet advancing operations.

Fig. 9 is a rear view taken along line 9-9 in Fig. 3 and showing the sheet stop and associated feed rollers.

The main purpose of the feeding devices is to select and move a ledger sheet 50 (Fig. 1) to the correct printing position as rapidly as possible.

In the diagrammatic view (Fig. 1) is shown the path followed by the ledger sheet 50 in going from the magazine to the stacker. The top sheet is pushed to the right into engagement with the first set of feed rollers 55 and 56 and is then curved downward to a substantially upright position and toward the front by a pair of guides 51 and 58. An auxiliary roller 59 and a fiat guide iii! direct the sheet into a second pair of rollers 6| and 62. Roller 62 is on a fixed pivot i3? but the upper roller 'BI is liftable relative thereto and provides an opening at the same time that a stop or detent 299 is projected into the path of the sheet. As the stop 299 is lowered or withdrawn, the roller BI is moved in synchronism therewith to drop into operative contact with a sheet 5!] and provide feeding means in cooperation with the lower roller 62.

After leaving the second set of feed rollers, a sheet continues forward and downward in a straight path between guides 63 and 64. The sheet is next drawn between feed rollers 65 and BE. Advancing further, the sheet passes along one of two alternate paths defined by a separation plate 68 and two outer guides 69 and 10. As the sheet passes around the front of a platen 12 on platen shaft H15, it is held thereon by curved guide wires 82 and pressure rollers H and 13. In going upward the sheet is elevated by ejection feed rollers M and i5 and its rearward movement is reversed by curved guides 15 and 11 which direct the sheet between ejecting rollers 18 and 19 which throw the sheet into the stacker box.

During a normal printing operation, three sheets are in the course of advancement from the magazine to the stacker. The first sheet is around the front of the platen l2 and in printer impression receiving position where it is held by rollers ii and 73. The second sheet is between the rollers 95 and 59 with the top of the sheet already past the rollers and near the platen. One side of the double channel 99, E9 contains the tail of the first sheet which is overlapped by the top of the second sheet in the other side of the channel. The third sheet normally rests with its front or leading edge against the stop or detent 299 and the adjacent rollers 55, 52 are open. I

When a sheet feeding operation is initiated, four sheets are advanced along the path shown in Fig. '1. The first sheet is ejected; the sec ond sheet is advanced around the platen; rollers BI, 62 are closed to move the third sheet along to rollers 65, $6 and the fourth sheet is picked off the top of the pile in the magazine and pushed into the bite of rollers 55, 56.

Turning now to the drive connections from motor M, Fig. 2, it is seen that the motor shaft carries a driving pinion 525 which meshes with gear I25 of a speed reduction train comprising pinion I21, gear I29, pinion I29 and idler gear E39. Gear 225 and pinion I21 are fastened together and pivoted on a stud 98.

The other feed roller shafts 94 and 95 are driven by a belt drive. Referring to Fig. 2, it is seen that gear 528 and pinion I29 are fastened together and attached to shaft I37 which carries feed rollers 52, Fig. 1, and also carries a drive pulley E99, Fig. 2. An endless belt I4I is drawn around pulley I39 and passed over a small pulley I49 secured to shaft 94 which carries feed roller 59, Fig. 1. The belt is then passed under an idling tension roller I42, Fig. 2, before passing around another pulley I46 secured to shaft 95. Tension roller I42 is pivoted on an arm H49 fulcrumed at I44 on the side frame. A spring I45 tends to rock the arm in a clockwise direction to take up the slack in the belt I4I. By means of the connections traced, shaft 94 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, and shafts 95 and I31 are rotated in a clockwise direction to operate the feed rollers near the back of the feeding device, so that any sheet pushed out of the magazine is advanced downwardly and forward toward the platen.

A train of drive gearing extends across the machine in a horizontal line to reach the drive connections for the platen line spacing, head spacing, high speed feed and ejecting mechanisms. It is already explained that gear I39 is driven by the speed reduction gearing connected to the motor. This gear is loosely pivoted on a stud 533 projecting from the side frame. It meshes with another gear ISI loosely mounted on a shaft I92. Gear E35 meshes with another idler gear E39 pivoted on a stud I4! secured to the left side frame 35. The idler meshes with a pinion I E l secured to another gear I35 which is loosely pivoted on a fixed rod I48 extending from the side frame. Gear I 95 meshes with a pinion I39 attached to the line space clutch ratchet i553, Fig. 7, secured to the shaft I49. Also secured to shaft I49 is a pinion 495 in mesh with a clutch gear 419 alongside a related clutch gear 458 which meshes with pinion 48I on the platen shaft I95.

At the inner end of shaft I49 is attached gear 498 for driving the constantly rotating shafts carrying the fixed ejection rollers.

Shaft I32, Fig. 2, controls the suction dev c a short front wall E93.

for lifting the top sheet of record material out of the magazine, and this same shaft is part of the sheet feed clutch for operating detent 299, Fig. 3, and closing feed rollers Si, 62.

ttached to the large drive gear ISI, Fig. 2, is a clutch ratchet I55 loosely mounted on shaft I32. Cooperating with the ratchet is a clutch pawl i526 pivoted at I51 on the side of another large gear I53 fixed to shaft I32 and of the same diameter as gear I3I. The pawl I59 is normally held out of engagement by a disengaging member I59 pivoted on a stud I69 on the side frame. Member I59 is limited in its movement by a stop pin I54 projecting from the side frame and through a hole in a projection I68 formed on the member. A spring ESI attached to the member I59 urges it in a clockwise direction and tends to release the pawl. However, the rotation of the member is obstructed by the upper end of an armature lever I92 pivoted on a stud Q93 extending from the side frame. Attached to the armature lever is a spring I54 tending to rock it in a counterclockwise direction to latch member I59 in a restored position. Whenever a sheet feeding operation is selected, a magnet SF is energized to attract armature lever I62 and rock it in a clockwise direction to release member I59 which in turn released pawl I55 so that the clutch is engaged and gear I58 is connected to the drive gearing from the motor for one complete revolution.

In order to prevent backward movement of the gear I53 when it is stopped at the end of a cycle of operation, there is pivoted on stud H63 a stop bail 55 with an arm extending under a block I59 attached to gear I58 for the added purpose of carrying a compression spring cooperating with the clutch pawl. Another arm of stop bail I95 is attached to one end of spring ISI and cooperates with a stop pin to limit the movement of the stop member.

Soon after pawl I59 is tripped and the gear I58 starts to rotate ina clockwise direction, block I99 on the gear cooperates with the projection I58 011 the latching member I59, so that it is rocked about pivot I59 and restored to an effective position over armature lever I62 and ready to disengage the pawl when gear I58 reaches the home position.

Cooperating with gear I58 are gear connections leading to various mechanisms made effective whenever sheet feeding is selected. Meshing with gear I58 is a gear I19 attached to a shaft I'II, Fig. 1, carrying the roller 66.

In Fig. 3, it is seen that the sheet magazine is supplied with sheets 50 through a large centralized opening in the right side frame. The magazine comprises a large tray which is movable up and down, so that the operator can pull it down to place a pile of ledger sheets thereon and then allow it to move upward again until the top sheet is in the sheet feeding position.

The sheet tray is composed of a base I89 with settable edge lugs l8l, a left side wall I82, and

It is proportioned to handle sheets of various widths. In the plan view it is apparent that the right side of the tray is without any wall, thus iving ready access for the removal and insertion of sheets through the opening in the right side frame. The rear edge of the tray is also without an upper wall because it is over this edge that the top ends of the sheets 59 are pushed into engagement with the feed rollers 55, 55. A flexible front gage is provided in the form of a removable L-shaped bar I99 in contact with the flange on the front of the base I80 and secured at I85 to the under side of the base. In Fig. 3 it is seen that the left side wall I82 extends below'the base and provides front and rear ends I86 and I81 t which various magazine controls are attached.

Attached to left wall I82 are two long roller holding bars I88 and I89 of rectangular cross section. Pivoted on bar I88 are a pair of rollers I90 and another pair of rollers I9I mounted at right angles to the first pair. On bar I89 there are also pivoted two pairs of angularly disposed rollers I92 and I93. A pair of long channels I94 and I 95 are secured to frame 85 in vertical spaced alignment to act as tracks with which the rollers cooperate to make the tray readily movable upward as the top sheets are fed therefrom. From the showing in Fig. 3, it is clear that the pairs of rollers I90 and I92 cooperate with inner walls of channels I94 and I95, while the other pairs of rollers I 9| and I93 contact with the edges of the channels. Thus, the magazine tra is held in a true horizontal plane in all positions and yet readily responsive to vertical adjustment.

A large spring I99 is attached to one end to an extension 260 on the bottom wall I86 and at the other end the spring is held by a fixed stud 20I on the frame 85. The spring tends to raise the tray and bring the top sheets into feeding position regardless of the number of sheets or the thickness of the pile on the tray.

A handle 202 is attached to the flange of the tray base I80, so that the tray can be pulled down against the tension of spring I99 when it, is desired to insert sheets into the magazine.

. When released to move upward to a sheet feeding position, the tray moves to a position detercrank I19 together form a stopping bail which is held in the normal position by a spring I12. A roller I91 on bell crank I19 cooperates with a cam I98 on an operating shaft I69 to raise and lower lever I18. It is explained hereinafter how the lever is raised away from the sheets during sheet feeding when another means is brought into play to hold down all sheets except the top sheet.

Ejector control devices other than cam I98 are mounted on shaft I69. This shaft is supported at the right end by a large bearing standard 22I (Fig. 3) fastened to the top of frame 99, while the left end passes through side frame 85, Fig. 2, and carries a gear 222 in mesh with gear H8. Gear IIB is driven by a train of gearing I16, I14 and I 13 extending down to gear I58 which is rotated whenever a sheet feeding operation is selected by magnet SF. Gear 222 is equal in diameter to the drive gear I16 and therefore it is rotated through one complete revolution for each sheet feeding cycle.

The sheets are fed one by one from the top of the pile on the magazine tray. In order to separate the top sheet from the other sheets in the magazine, the corner of the sheet'is engaged by a suction device and bent upward away from the other sheets. A separator blade passes under the raised sheet and holds down the pile while a sheet picker ejects the top sheet off the pil and into the feed rollers.

Suction for the sheet separator is provided by a suction pump shown in Fig. 2. There it is seen that a cylinder head 225 is fastened to the outside of side frame 85. Within the cylinder is a piston 226 connected to a piston rod 221, the lower end of which is articulated at 228 on an arm of a crank lever 229 pivoted on a stud 230 and provided with an operating roller 23 I. A spring 232 tends to rock lever 229 in a counterclockwise direction to pull down piston 226. However, the lever is held in a normal position by a latch lever 233, the upper end of which cooperates with a notch in a stud 234 attached to the side of lever 229. The operating lever 229 is restored to the home position by a cam 235 attached to the sheet feeding gear I58 and cooperating with roller 23I whenever a feeding operation is selected.

In the normal position of the parts, cam 235 holds the lever 229 in a raised position so that the latch 233 may fall under the shoulder on stud 234. At the beginning of a sheet feeding cycle, cam 235 moves clockwise away from roller 23I and allows lever 229 to depend on latch 233. After a short interval of time, a pin 236 on cam 235 strikes the lower arm of latch 233 which is pivoted on stud 231 extending from the side frame. When the latch is so operated and rocked in a counterclockwise direction, it is moved out of the path of stud 234 and lever 229 is free to be operated by spring 232. The spring moves down the piston 236 and creates a partial vacuum in the top of the cylinder 225. In communication with the top of the piston is a tube 231 leading to suction devices for engaging the top sheet in the magazine. The condition of a partial vacuum is maintained above the piston and throughout the length of tubing 231 for a-short interval of time, during which the top sheet is lifted and separated from the remaining sheets in the magazine.

Before the sheet is pushed out of the magazine it is desired that the vacuum condition be relieved to release the sheet. This is accomplished by opening an air port 238 leading into the top of the cylinder. The air inlet port is normally closed by a valve lever 239 pivoted at 249 on the top of the cylinder head. A spring 24I tends to hold the valve closed. Abutting against the under side of the valve lever is a rod 242 guided near the top by a hole in the lug on the side of the cylinder head, and at its bottom end the rod is adjustably connected to one end of a bell crank 243 pivoted on stud 230. The vertical arm of bell crank 243 is formed with an offset portion 244 in the path of pin 236. As pin 236 is moved with cam 235 in a clockwise direction,'it first encounters latch 233 to release the parts for the creation of suction in the feeding devices, and then, continuing in the same direction and soon after passing out of engagement with latch 233, the pin strike s offset portion 244 and rocks bell crank 24 3 in a clockwise direction to lift rod 242 and valve lever239; so that air is allowed to enter above the piston and throughout the tubing 231 to relieve the vacuum condition causing suction therein.

A spring 245 is connected between latch 233 and bell crank 243 to hold these parts in the normal positions and to restore them when they are operated. As cam 235 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction and as it nears the end of the cycle, it cooperates with roller 23I to move lever 229 in a clockwise direction to restore the piston to the normal position near the top of the cylinder head and latch stud 234 over lever 7 233. .As the :piston moves, the air above the piston is driven through the port 238 automatically to permit an easier movement of the parts.

In Fig. 3, it is seen that the line of suction tubing 231 is terminated underneath the frame member 96 directly under the standard 22l and an opening within the standard provides an air passage between tubing 231 and a hollow shaft 249, Fig. 5, pivoted horizontally at an angle within the lower part of the standard. Extending rearwardly from the tubular shaft 249 is a smaller tube 256 which carries at its end a suction cup 2,5l. In Fig. 3, it is seen that the lower part of the suction cup 25l is cut away with an opening that leads into the hollow tube 256, the end of which is filled to prevent leakage of air except through the cup. The cup is clamped on to tube 259 at an angle poised above the lower corner of the sheet. Tube 259 does not project in a straight line beyond the inside of the bearing tube 249 but is bent to form a crank, so that when the'shaft 229 is rocked in the standard 22!, the cup is clamped down upon the end of the top sheet, and then, on the return twisting motion, the crank lifts the cup into the position shown in Fig. 3.

The arrangement for raising the suction cup and lowering it is shown in detail in Fig. 5. There it is seen that an operating arm 253 is secured to the hollow shaft 249 and carries a projecting pin 254 in cooperation with a earn 255 which holds the cup in the normal raised position. A spring 256 urges the engagement of the cup and sheet; However, as soon as the feeding cycle is initiated and shaft I69 starts to rotate counterclockwise, a depression in cam 255 permits counterclockwise motion of arm 253 and the suction parts connected therewith, with the result that the suction cup is clamped down upon the corner of the top sheet of the supply packet. Since a vacuum condition is created in the tubing leading to the cylinder already described, the top sheet is attracted to the cup and moved along therewith when it is raised by the cam shoulder 251 on cam 255. The suction cup is held in the raised position through the remainder of the cycle, but the vacuum condition therein is terminated shortly after a sheet separator is operated to pass under the lifted corner of the top sheet.

In Fig. 3 is shown a side view of the sheet separator blade 269 which is pivotally mounted on a screw 26] fastened in the standard 22 l. The blade is shaped with a pointed end bent downwardly above the pile of sheets 59 but normally out of alignment withthe front edge of the sheet, therefore permitting the suction cup to lift the edge of the topsheet higher than the blade. However, as soon as the cup and attached sheet edge are lifted, blade 236 is released to snap under the single lifted sheet and press down the other sheets. A coil spring 262 is coiled around a hub on screw 26f and tends to push the blade towards the sheets. However, movement of the blade is normally obstructed by a face cam 263 secured to shaft I69. Cooperating with the face of cam 263 is a pin 264 extending vertically upward from a short arm on the end of the blade opposite the separating point. As the cam 253 moves in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) the pin 264 is in contact with a concentric level part of the face of the cam so that during the early part of the feeding cycle, while the suction cup is moving, the blade remains stationary. However, after about 90 of movement, a sharp depression comes opposite the pin 264 and frees the blade for operation by the spring 262. The blade 266 is snapped into the sheet separating position and remains there until near the end of the cycle when a rise on the face of cam 263 strikes pin 264 and rocks the blade back to the home position. Overthrow of the returning blade is prevented by a long pin 266 riveted in frame 96 and projecting alongside the blade.

After the top sheet 50 is lifted by the suction cup 25! and held separated by the blade 266, lever H8 (Fig. 6) is lifted by the spring I12 under the control of the cam I98 to free the sheet for horizontal movement by a pushing device.

The sheet pushing device of the ejector is shown in detail in Fig. 4 where it is noted that a vertical web 269 of the standard 22| (Fig. 3) projects rearward to provide a fulcrum 210 for an L- shaped lever 21l carrying a roller 212 cooperating with a cam 213 on shaft I69. A coil spring 214 is wound around fulcrum 216 and pressed against a pin on the lever to urge it clockwise and press the roller 212 against the cam. Fastened to the side of lever 21! is a downwardly extending arm 215 formed with an offset pusher or picker extension 216 bent to cooperate with the front edge of the lifted sheet. During the first part of the rotation of shaft I69, lever 21] remains idle as roller 212 rides over a concentric part of cam 213. However, as soon as the sheet lifting, separating and releasing operations are completed, a sudden rise on cam 213, strikes roller 212 and rocks the lever 21l in a counterclockwise direction, causing extension 216 to push against the edge of the top sheet 50 and shove it towards the rear of the machine, into the bite of the feed rollers 55 and 56 (Fig. 3) Lever 21! is allowed to restore slowly by following a smooth descending surface on cam 213.

Directly behind the rear edge of the top sheet 50 are mounted the cooperating feed rollers 55 and 56 which rotate continuously during machine operation. When the top sheet is pushed between the rollers, it is carried along toward the rear and down to a substantially upright position between guides 51 and 58. The clockwise rotating rollers 56 are fastened to the shaft 94 which is driven by belt M! (Fig. 2), as explained hereinbefore. A pinion 286 (Fig. 3) fastened to shaft 96 meshes with another pinion 28l on a shaft 282 carrying the upper pair of feed rollers 55, thus providing a driving connection between the rollers. Shaft 282 is not mounted in fixed bearings in the side frames and 86 as is shaft 96. Instead, it is loosely supported at the right end in a bearing opening in frame 25, and its left end is flexibly supported by an arm 28 3 on a shaft 235 loosely mounted in the side frames. Also attached to shaft 285 is an arm 286 to which is connected a spring 281 pulling the shaftin a counterclockwise direction to press rollers 55 down upon rollers 56. Therefore, rollers 55 are free to rise when a sheet of substantial thickness is fed, but they are maintained in contact with rollers 56 at all other times by spring 231. p

A shield 288 is fastened to frame 9| under rollers 56 and not only holds the rear edges of the sheets away from the rollers, but also pushes the sheets into alignment when the magazine is raised.

The sheets are aligned. in the other direction by a guide strip 289 which is attached to the inside of right frame 86 and bent to cam the edges of the upper sheets into the proper position.

As the top edge of the sheet 50 appears behind the rollers 55, 56, it is directed downward by a deflector 29! with ears 292 attached to the side frames.

The top end of the outer guide is attached to deflector 23! by a clamp comprising an inner holding block 293, a leaf spring 294 and a screw knob 295 for tightening the connection.

The lower end of guide 51 is p-ivotally fastened to studs 296 on the side frames by ears '29! projecting from the sides of the guide.

While the sheet is passing down between guides 51 and 58, it is urged downward by the counterclockwise rotation of rollers 59 on the shaft 65 which is belt driven as already explained. Rollers 59 do not press the sheet against guide 58 and feed it positively, but instead they merely contact the underside of the sheet and urge it downward. After the sheet has passed beyond the feed control of rollers 55, 56, and is loose within the guides 51, 58, rollers 59 urge it down against the sheet stop 299.

While the sheet is loose withinthe guides 51 and 58, it is aligned laterally before being engaged by the normally open rollers 6| and 62 and carried further into the machine. There is a side aligner 302 for putting the sheet in the proper position before it is fed further.

While the sheet is being aligned within the guides 51 and 58 (Fig. 3) it is located longitudinally by the end stop 239 in engagement with the front edge of the sheet. The movements of the sheet laterally and longitudinally into a correct position are made possible b the opening of a space between the feed rollers 6i and 62. The operation for separating thefeed rollers is synchronized with the operation for putting the sheet stop in the path of the advancing sheet, because normally when the stop is in effect, the rollers are ineffective, and conversely when the rollers are made effective, the stop is to be withdrawn.

The lower pair of feed rollers 62 (Fig. 9) are attached to the shaft I31 provided with fixed bearings in both side. frames. and having gear connections with the driving motor as revealed in Fig.2. The other or upper rollers 6| are fastened to a rod 330 (Fig. 9) which carries a gear 33I in mesh with another gear 332 attached to shaft I31, so that the rollers are in constant operation as long as the motor is energized. Rod 33!] carrying the upper feed rollers is arranged to be moved as part of a bail suspending the upper rollers above the lower fixed rollers. The bail comprises a pair of side arms 334 and 335. Arm 335 is pivoted on astud 336 secured to the left side frame 86 (Fig. 9), while the other arm 334 is fulcrumed on the end of a stud 331 attached to the inside frame 85. The two arms are connected by a tube 338 to which is attached the hub of a connecting bracer link 339 encircling rod 330 to stiffen it midway between feed rollers 6| and also act as a carrying means to rock the feed rollers in and out of contact with rollers 62. The one side arm 334 (Fig. 3) is extended toward the front of the machine and formed with that it normally depresses arm 334 to rock about center 33'! and open rollers BI, 62 and close gate detent 299. Early in the feeding cycle, the rise on cam 342 moves away from lug 34l and allows closure of the rollers for sheet feeding until it nears the end of a complete revolution. Then,

.an offset lug 34i cooperating with a cam 342 attached to shaft I32. The cam is proportioned so occupies a space between guides 63, E3.

., rollers.

therise on the cam cooperates with lug 34| to push down the front end of side arm 334 and rock it in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 331. This serves to lift the entire roller holding unit comprising rod 333 and rollers 6 I.

At the time that this separation is caused between rollers 6] and 62, the advancing edge of the incoming ledger sheet is approaching a position between the rollers. Itis, therefore, advisable to provide means for arresting and aligning the front of the sheet, and such a means is provided in the form of the stop or detent 299. The stop forms a cross member of a bail including a pair of levers 344 and 345 (Fig. 9) and an operating lever 345 secured to a rod 346 supported between the side frames. The cross section of stop 239 is formed in the shape of an l. with a series of vertical extensions movable into the path of the advancing sheet. The ends of the stop member are formed with overturned ears riveted to the side levers 344 and 345. A link 34! is connected between the lever 345 and the operating side arm 334 so that the pair of bails form an interconnected vibratory carrier for the stop and feed A spring 340 attached to arm 334 holds the arm rocked in a clockwise direction with lug 34H in constant cooperation with cam 342. As the end of the cycle approaches, the cam pushes down the end of the arm as already explained to separate the rollers, and at the same time link 341 is pushed down to rock the levers 344 and 345 in a counterclockwise direction to lift stop detent member 259 into the path of the advancing sheet. The parts are held in this position with the sheet aligned at the end of the cycle when sheet feeding is suspended.

Earl in the next cycle of operation, cam 342 presents an abrupt depression which allows spring 343 to rock the operating arm 334 in a clockwise direction to lower feed roller 6! into contact with the ledger sheet and press it against the lower feed roller 62. At the same time, link 341 is pulled upward and the sheet stop is lowered out of the path of the sheet which is now properly aligned and ready to be directed forward to the platen by rollers 51 and 62 which continue to rotate. Since drive gear i3l, Fig. 2, is common to the platen drive gearing, namely, gears I33, I34, l35, I30" (Fig. 7), 485, no, 463 and 48l (Fig. 2) and the gearing for shaft [32, the sheet stop and roller actuation is synchronized with the operation of the platen.

The sheet guides 63 and 64 are supported on pairs of hinge hangers 353 and 35l, Fig. 9, which encircle a rod The rear edges of the guides are flared as at 353 to facilitate the entry of the sheet, and the edges are also scalloped to provide spaces for the upstanding projections 354 on the sheet stop 233. The lower ends of the guides 63 and 54 are supported on studs extending from the'top of brackets Ell fastened in the machine. These and other of the hinged guides give ready access to all parts Of the sheet path for the removal of sheets should any jam occur.

As the sheet passes over the lowered detent 299, it is moved along by rollers 6i and 62 and then engaged by rollers 65, 63, Fig. 1, so that the front end of the sheet is directed into guides 63, 10 while the previously fed sheet at the platen also However, there is no conflict between the overlapping edges of the two sheets because they are in separate compartments between the guides. The central plate 63 acts as a divider or separator between l i plates 69 and it to form two sheet guide spaces therein. A tilting mechanism is provided to rock the guide assembly 68, 89 and 1c, upward on alternate sheet feed cycles so that the pointed edge of center plate 68 is above the sheet path to direct every other sheet into the lower guide space.

Cooperating with the upper and lower surfaces of the platen 12, Fig. 1, are a number of rollers H and 13 for pressing the sheet of record material against the platen while feeding and imprinting are taking place. As the sheet passes down between guides 88, 69 and it, it is directed between the platen and curved wires 82 shaped concentric with the outer impression receiving surface of the platen. The sheet also passes over the long pressure roller 35 which mounted on a tube on arms pivoted to move the roller away from the platen during ejection. The upper pressure rollers '53 are also movably mounted to be lifted away from the platen after printing is finished thereon.

Through the cooperation of roller 'H', wires 32 and rollers 13 with the periphery of the platen, it is evident that the sheet is confined against the platen, as printing takes place, as it is spaced, and as it passes around and upward toward the ejection stacking devices.

Above the platen are the ejection feed rollers H, '55 for carrying the sheet away from the platen. Roller i4 is fixed with respect to the platen since the center shaft carrying it is fulcrumed in the side frames. However, the other feed roller 15 is movable to provide a separation between rollers H, 15 so that ejection feeding may be suspended while high speed insertion, line spacingand printing operations are taking place,

As soon asthe sheet being ejected is engaged by rollers l8, l9, the r ollers is, 15 can be opened to permit the insertion of the second sheet around the platen. The ejection initiating mechanism is restored soon after the sheet feedingcycle is started.

Devices are provided as already pointed out, to

communicate the driving action of the motor M, Fig, 2, through the train of gearing and over to the highspeed feed clutch gears 68, ll'lii, Fig. 7, said gear llfismeshing directly with the gear #285, Fig. 2, on the platen shaft H15. Thehigh speed feeding devices are provided because'it is desired that the sheet pass beyond the heading space thereon and up to the imprint receiving position asrapidly as possible. Although gear 318 is constantly rotating, Fig. '7, platen driven gear 568 is not normally clutched thereto but is selectively clutched by the energization of the high Speed magnet HS.

Adjus'tably secured to stud Q69 (Fig. 7) is a fixed drum Q12 carrying a fulcrum point 413 which engages the side of an armature TM guided at its upper end by a projection 4'55 on the fixed drum and loosely pivoted at its lower end on a stud 316" projecting from a bracket V1 holding the high speed control magnet HS to the main side frame 85. The upper end of armature 414 is formed as a yoke embracing the sides of stud 46s. The lower end of the armature is formed with a hole through which passes a reduced section of stud 4T6.

Pressing between the side of armature ti l and a head on stud 47B is a spring M8 tending to rock the armature in a clockwise direction about pivot ft. Keyed to stud and slidable axially thereon is a pointed pressure block 4'59 cooperating with the sides of the armature 31 i and gear see.

When the magnet HS is energized to cause high speed operation of the platen, armature 4'56 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction about pivot and the upper end of the armature is rocked toward the left (Fig. '7), pushing block M9 in the same direction and pressing gear 468 toward the left to engage the clutch face 4H on the constantly rotating gear 476 to form a driving connection therebetween. Gear 470 is driven rapidly by a pinion 1.85 fastened to the shaft M9 which is in constant rotation as driven by the gear I36 secured thereto as already explained. The driving motion of gear l'iil is communicated through the clutch to gear 468 and then to pinion I (Fig, 2) fastened to the platen shaft.

The duration of the energization of the high speed magnet HS and the extent of high speed feeding of the sheet is determined at the platen by the number of feed control perforations extending down the margin of the sheet. A sensing brush senses the processionof marginal perforations and calls into operation a relay Rll il 1', Fig. 8, to close contacts Rl ii la in series with magnet HS to maintain a high speed circuit until insulated by the unused part, of the sheet.

In Fig. 8 it is seen that the sheet feed control magnet SF is in series with a number of contacts arranged in series and in parallel. It is sufficient to note one way in which the sheet feed operation can be initiated.

Sheet feed start contactsCST are key operated by hand, and when closed, a circuit is-established for connected relay R62. This relay then closes associated contacts R62a in series with the sheet feed magnet SF. Upon energization of magnet SF, the picker or ejector mechanism cooperates with the top sheet in the magazine and pushes it into the initial set of feeding rolls which carry it downto be arrested temporarily by the detent. From there on the sheet is car.- ried to the platen by the other feeding rollers already described.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as. appliedto a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes. in the form and details .of the device illustrated and inits operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of i the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope-of. the following claims.

What isclaimed is:

1. In a writing orimprint-ing -machine, wherein recordmaterial is progressively advanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, including a sheet feeding mechanism including an ejector for advancing a succession of sheets one by one from a supply packet thereof; carrier means with two supporting structures, an interconnectinglink between said structures for alternating the direction of movement thereof, a sheet detent carried by oneof said supporting structures andmovable into and out of the path of ejected sheets to temporarily arrest said-sheets, and a sheet feeding device carried by the-other of said supporting structures and actuated, into engagement withthesheet in alternation with thesheet detent, said feeding device being in said path .between the supply packet and the platen roll, and actuiating means for moving the carrier means in timed relation with the rotation of the platen roll to disengage the detent from the sheet and engage the feeding device therewith.

2. In a writing or imprinting machine, wherein record material is progressively advanced about a platen roll and past an impression receiving position, including a sheet feeding mechanism including an ejector for advancing a succession of sheets one by one from a supply packet thereof, carrier means with a pair of pivoted levers one of which is a cam follower, a link connecting said levers, a sheet detent carried by one of said carrier levers and movable into and out of the path of ejected sheets to temporarily arrest said sheets, and a sheet feeding device carried by the other of said carrier levers and actuated into engagement with the sheet in alternation with the sheet detent, said detent and feeding device being in said path between the supply packet and the platen r011, said detent being closer to the platen r011 than said feeding device, and actuating means including a cam cooperating with said follower lever for vibrating the carrier means in timed relation with the rotation of the platen roll to disengage the detent from the sheet and engage the feeding device therewith.

FRED M. CARROLL.

JOHN H. BAKE-LAAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,028,813 Stuart Jan. 28, 1936 2,135,541 Stuart et a1. Nov. 8, 1938 2,240,568 Mills et a1. May 6, 1941 

